Scoop-control means for material loaders



2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HM. Siue/afld H M STUELAND SCOOP-CONTROL MEANS FOR MATERIAL LOADERS Original Filed March 29, 1951 Oct. 4,1955 H. M. STUELAND 2,719,638

SCOOP-CONTROL MEANS FOR MATERIAL LOADERS Original Filed March 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E 188* Z v 14.90 t 504 i soz @590" 4370"" K n .372. 92, zaa- INVENTOR. HM Wad/027a Altar/1g United States Patent SCOOP-CONTROL MEANS FOR MATERIAL LoAnE-ns 8 Claims. (c1.214 -140 This application is a division of co-pending application, Sen'alNo. 218,105, filed March 29,1951, now Patent 'lflo. 2,679,943, and the invention relates tobucketor scoop-control means for material loaders, More particularly, the invention pertains to a tractor-mounted loader of the type useful on farms for handling manure, gravelandother materials. l A typical tractor-mounted loader comprises a machine in which the tractor provides a base on which are pivotedthe 'rear ends of a pair of forwardly extending lift booms. The pivot of the booms to the tractor is on a transverse horizontal axis so that a bucket or scoop or equivalent load-carrying element at the front ends of the booms may be raised and lowered. The pivotal connection between the bucket and the front ends of the booms is likewise on a transverse horizontal axis about which the bucket is movablefrom 'a normal level position to a downwardly and forwardly sloping dumping position. Conventional design requires that some'form of releasable latch be used between the front ends of the booms and the bucket so that the bucket may be released for tilting to its dumping position. On the other hand, it is desirable that means he provided for associa nail" with'the bucket and the booms for maintaining the level position of the bucket during raising and lowering of thebooms that is to say, this means preventsrearward tilting of the bucket as the booms are raised, which would occur if the bucket is fixed to the booms. Therefore, conventional parallel linkage or other cornp'ens'atihg means may be used for stabilizing or maintaining the'level position of the bucket.

This invention relates to the coordination of bucketrelease' means with the bucket-leveling means. More particularly, the invention has for an object the provision of an iniproved and simplified construction inwhich the bucket may be maintained level or substantially so iri dependently of and without affecting the 'o peration of the bucke't r'elease means. Conversely, it isari object to'p r ovide for operation of the release means independently of the position of the bucket relative to the r und; Pi-i marily, it is an object to utilize bucket-release *meansof such nature that the means is normally of affixed'len'gth but includes relatively movable members to produce changes in length to accomplish tilting of the bucke't -b'etween-its level and dumping positions. V?

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the inven tion'will become apparent as a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in detailin the-following "de scription and accompanying sheets of drawingsf' Inthe drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with the near wheels removed, ofone form of loader construction in which a preferred embodiment of the invention may :be incorporated;

4 Figure 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale as seen along the line v22 of Figure l; and i Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion "of. the

inits released or dinn pingl position.

*The tractor chosenfor the purposes of illustration is typical of many agricultural tractors and Comprises a longitudinal body made up of an intermediate body perti o'nf30 ahead of which is a forward body portion 32 that includes an internal combustion engine. Behind the ir i,-' termediate body portion 30' is" a rear body; portion 34 from which conventionally project oppositely outwardly extei ding" rear axle housings, only one'of which appears at 36, A depeindinghousing 381s associated with the axle housing 36. "A similar housingfoccur s at, the other side of the tractor and these two housings serve" to mount pair of traction wheels', only the left-hand one of which appears at 44. The rear part of the tractor affords space for an'operator an d this space may be delineated atopp ide y end s q l fc e' bfiw i h a pe s. at 6'- The forward part 3; of the body includes a'pair of longitudinallyspaced bearings 52 and 54 betweenwhich is earried a transverse front axle structure 5 8 Thislaxle' structure may be of the archedbtype having at each side thereof a depending leg, only one of which appears "at 6 2. This leg is provided conventionally with a spindle on hich/ s j ur lsd a om eel 66- S i 'd nd, W e l, structure (not shown) has beenornitted from the right hand side of the tractor shown in Figure l." 1" "'The tractor'j 'is completed by a forward grille structure 68 which c'ontinuesrearwardly as an engine hood ol m h"' 1I ront, Whe 66- The tractor may besupplernented'byan auxiliary frame 78 'that extends fore and aft and'that'has front and rear. n s" and 84 r e ve s Suggested n E fefa the auxiliary frame 18 is of U.-shaped construction as viewed froi'n aho'veandhas opposite side portions 8' 'an'd to terminate just ahead of a steering wheel 'IZQfor con-' .9v resp ct ve y. a p s te s; o' 'th H s n Each o h p in a n uch s at 3% ha forwardlyjextending mounting bracket to which is. connected the'rear' end '84 of the'proximate side portion of the, auxiliary'f raine 7 8. Removable" securing means; uc a bol s 04; y be use o efi tin he" a nesfione, v Th orw rd be i po t n hi h su p r the i ,5. ca i'es'a".depending bracketl10 to which v I '8 2J'of theauxiliary'fralne 7 8,"is secured. Bolts nnn'ms 114 and 116 may be utilized to effect the c n e ion, a s I the details of the loader described here form thesnbject matter fi epatentreferred to above." These will any briefly covered here for purposes of orienau l ary frame '78 nc ud at its e n nd at deniereor'n .upstandingsupport' 118 The trac supplem mega by theaux'iliary frame 78 thus pro "a'se for he mounting of a'pair of forwardly'exr' tendlng, side-by-s de loader or'lift booms 188 and 190, Sincethe'rear'portionof only the right-hand boom is 'disclos ed, reference will be hadthereto, with the under sta gthat the rear end of the'other booni 190 is simila'rly'mountedf The lowerportion of the support 118 is provided with a paif ofarc uzi'teslots 198 an'd Z tlO'and the rear portion'of the, boom 188 has upper'and lower rollers 2316 21121 208 running respectively in the arcuateslotsf When'tlie booms "'are' in their lowered positions, the-rear ends' thereofseat with respectto the slot '200 (and with respect ma sii'nilar' slot and similar'support'at theother side of the tractor) at a'p'ointC." The upper roller 206 is in the forward er'idof'thehpper slot 198, oris -in forwardly spac ed'relation to the "point D. The upper end of the siipport 118 establishes a point 'A towhich'is corinected a cylinder 21 8 forming part-of a fluid motor assembly 214; The'piston rod 2220f themotor 2'14 isconnected'at-point o wa d end of the o m r ct e how ng the 2 9 the link 384 comprises a first lever part.

B to an intermediate part of the boom 188 by a suitable mounting means 234. The purpose of this arrangement is, as explained in theabove-identified. patent to give the lifting boom two different leverages as raising thereof is accomplished. For example, asthe point B moves upwardly in the arc B to the point B the basic pivot for the rear end of the boom 188 will be at the point C. At the end of the arc B or at point B the upper roller 206 at the rear end of the boom seats at point D in the rear end of the upper slot 198. Point B will then travel from point B through arc B to point B Stated briefly, the operation gives a slow rate with maximum power during the are 13 and a higher rate with less power during the arc B As stated above, these details are immaterial here and need not be fully understood for 'the purposes of the present invention. See Patent No. 2,679,943 for further de tails of the boom support.

. The motor 214 is of the two-way type and is contracted to cause raising of the booms. Fluid under pressure may be supplied to the motor from any suitable source (not shown) through conduits 364 and 366 via a valve 330 under control of a valve control lever 382.

The forward end of the auxiliary frame 78 may include a forwardly extending U-shaped bumper member 154 suitably joined to opposite sides 88 and 90 of the frame 78 as shown in Figure 2. The protective means afforded by the forward end of the frame 78 may further include an upstanding grille guard 168 appropriately braced at 176 to rear portions of the frame 78. These details are likewise covered in the patent referred to and need not be elaborated upon here.

Each of the lift booms has at its forward end a pivot 192 and these pivots are alined on a transverse horizontal axis for pivoting a bucket or scoop 196 to the booms. The bucket is normally carried in a level position as shown in both full and dotted lines in Figure l and is capable of being tilted to a forwardly and downwardly sloping dumping position as shown in Figure 3. The present invention is concerned with the control of the bucket and includes means for keeping the bucket level during raising of the booms and means for accommodating tilting of the bucket to dumping position when the booms are raised.

For the purposes of brevity and clarity, the loader is referred to as having front and rear ends. Normally this is the construction and design that will be expected. However, there are instances in which loaders are mounted at the rear ends of tractors or equivalent vehicles. Hence,

directional terms should be taken herein as illustrative and not limiting.

The booms 188 and 190 carry transversely alined mounting brackets 270 and 272 respectively for the mounting between the booms of a transverse rockable element comprising transverse shaft means 268 and rightand lefthand generally upright arms 274 and 278. The arm 274 is considerably longer than the arm 278 and is welded to the shaft means 268 as at 276. The arm 278 may be welded to the other end of the shaft means 268 as at 280 (Figure 2). The upper end of the arm 274 is pivotally connected at 382 to a stabilizing or leveling link 304, the rear end of which is connected at 306 to the upper end of the upstanding support 118 at the rear of the auxiliary frame 78. Since the shaft means 268 is pivotally carried at its opposite ends respectively in the mounting brackets 270 and 272 on the booms 188 and 190, the transverse element comprising the shaft means 268 and the arms 274 and 278 may rock within limits about the axis of the shaft means as the booms are raised. The linkage connection including the links 304 comprises compensating linkage for keeping the bucket 196 level during elevation and de pression of the booms, as will be brought out in greater detail below. That portion of the arm 274 between the shaft means 268 and the pivotal connection at 302 to That portion of the arm 274 between the shaft means 268 and a cross shaft 282 comprises a second lever part. Since the arm 278 is shorter than the arm 274, it has only the second lever part and its free end is in transverse alinement with the intermediate portion of the arm 274, whereby the transverse shaft 282 is carried at its opposite ends respectively by the two lever parts included in the arms 274 and 278 and is parallel to the transverse element 268 at the level of the upper end of the arm 27 8.

The transverse shaft 282 carries rotatably thereon a surrounding sleeve 284 which has welded respectively to its opposite ends two pairs of arms 286 and 288. The free or upper ends of the pair of arms 286 carry a pivot member 290 to which is connected the rear end of a forwardly extending link 292. The forward end of this link is connected at 294 to an upper portion of the bucket 196. Of importance is the fact that the pivot 294 is in vertically spaced relation to the pivot 192 between the bucket and the boom 188. The free ends of the other pair of arms 288 include a pivot 296 to which is connected the rear end of a forwardly extending link 298.

The forward end of this link is connected to the other side of the bucket 196 (not shown) on an axis common with the axis of the pivot 294. For all practical purposes, the duplication of the linkage at opposite sides of the structure may be ignored, at least for the purposes of an understanding of the invention. 7

The linkage 286-292 and 288298 comprises bucketcontrol means of normally fixed length effective between the transverse element 268274-278 for effecting a connection between the leveling means 274-304 and the bucket 196. However, the members comprising the parts 286 and 292 are relatively movable so as'to be capable of extension and retraction to effect changes in the length of the bucket-control means so that the bucket may be tilted to its dumping position. Preferably, the relationship of the members comprising parts 286 and 292 (and also the parts 288 and 298) is such as to establish an over-center lock in which the relationship of the interconnected ends of the members 286 and 292 effect a locking device relative to the transverse pivot shaft 282 (as shown in full lines in Figure 1). Thus, the bucket cannot tilt downwardly when the booms are elevated, since the line along which tensional force is exerted passes below the center of the transverse shaft 282. In effect, as long as the bucket-control means maintains its fixed length, it may be considered an extension of the leveling means, as suggested in the dotted-line position in Figure 1, wherein it will be seen that the bucket is substantially level even though the booms are materially elevated.

A sector 308 is welded to the surrounding sleeve 284 on the shaft 282 to provide a control lever for actuating the over-center lock. A control chain 310 is connected at-one end to the sector 308 and extends rearwardly; passing through a guide 312 on the bracket 234 and being connected to a control rod 314 which is in turn connected to a control lever 316. This lever is pivoted at its lower end at 318 on a lower portion of the upstanding support 118. a Briefly, the operation of the loader involves only the raising and lowering of the front ends of the booms to position the bucket 196 as'desired. The different leverages accomplished by the dual pivoting of the rear ends of the booms on the auxiliary frame provides for leveling the bucket through part of its raising cycle and op erates to tilt the bucket slightly rearwardly in the re-, mainder of its raising cycle,'all as brought out in the above-identified patent. As long as the bucket-control means maintains its fixed length, the bucket-leveling means operate in conjunction with the bucket-control means to hold the bucket level as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. When the 'desired'elevation ofithe bucket is achieved, the bucket-control means may be;re-. leased without affecting in any respect the-bucket-leveling means. Release of the bucket-control means isa'c complished by a pull on the chain 310 via the control lever 316. This causes clockwise rocking of the transat ases verse pivot sleeve 284, thusbreaking the over-center lock,

because the arms'zs's and'2 i83 move'upwardlyf The reaction of the break'ipgof the over-"center means "or toggle is taken by the transverse element comprisingthe shaft'me'ans"268 and the arms 274 and'278. Eventhough strikes the'ground, which causes the bucketto pivot in a counterclockwise direction to restore the over-center lock between thelinkag'e 286- 292 and'zszpzsm. Various other features of the invention not specifically enumerated/will imdoubte'dlyoccur to those versed in the-art, aslike'wise'will numerous modifications and alterations in the preferred embodimentof the invention disclosed, all or which maybe achieved without departing from the spirit andps copejof the'inven'tion.

" Whatis' claimed is:

l. In'a loader 'o'f the typ'ehaving a pair of elongated booms spaced apart in side-byf-side relationship and pivoted at their marc es on a transverse'horizorital axis to a base'for raising and lowering of -a load-carrying bucket pivoted to 'thefrontends of the booms on a transverse horizontal axis to tilt" forwardly and downwardly from a normal level position to a dumping position, the improvementcomprisin'g: a transverse rockable element spanning the booms rearwardly of the bucket and indin a means. nirgtssl at t Opposite ends s e vs y Q h pqms Q1 a t at sters h riz xi and a n r i rq arm's @119 at each nd i t af m sa and interconnected for angular movement in unison about ft? sa fe is Q9? o the r s tsecondlever parts of different efiective lengths having the shaft means axis as their fulcrum; element control means connected to the first lever part and to the loader base for imparting to the rockable element limited rocking movement relative to the booms as the booms are raised; and bucket control means of normally fixed length extending fore and aft between and pivotally connected at opposite ends respectively to the second lever part and to a portion of the bucket spaced vertically from the bucket axis so that limit 'ocking of the transverse element causes limited rockingbiof the bucket short of tilting of the bucket to dumping position, said bucket control means including a pair of relatively movable members connected respectively to the second lever part and to the aforesaid bucket portion, and a releasable lock device normally immobilizing the members to produce the aforesaid fixed length, said device being releasable to efiect relative movement of the members to produce change in length of the bucket control means sufiicient for the bucket to move to its dumping position independently of rocking of the rockable member.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: said members respectively comprise links pivoted together and arranged relative to each other to effect an over-center lock; the lock device includes a control lever for breaking the over-center lock; and means is provided for mounting the control lever on the transverse rockable element.

3. In a loader of the type having a pair of elongated booms spaced apart in side-by-side relationship and pivoted at their rear ends on a transverse horizontal axis to a base for raising and lowering of a load-carrying bucket pivoted to the front ends of the booms on a transverse horizontal axis to tilt forwardly and downwardly from a normal level position to a dumping position, the improvement comprising: a stabilized transverse rockable element extending between and mounted at its opposite ends respectively on the booms on a transverse axis in rearwardly spaced relation to the bucket and including a mounting pivoton an axis paralleling said elementaxisf an over-center lock device extendin'g'fore and aft between the element andtthe bucket'and including an arm mounted on'the 'aforesaidmounting pivot and 'a link connected at' one end to said arm and at its oppositeend'to the bucket in vertically spaced relation to the bucket pivoti 'and 'a c ontrollever pivoted on the mounting -pivot 'and eom' nectedto the arm for "breaking the over-center lock device. r

i 4 In a load-handling machine of thetype having a base to which the rear end of a forwardly"extendinglift boom is" pivoted 'on "a' transverse horizontal axis for "vertical swinging and'a load scoop is'p'ivo'ted to the forward end. ofthe'boom' for tilting about a transverseaxis' between loading and dumpingposition, the improvement compris:

ing: 'a rock arm pivoted on the boom behind' thesc'oop pivot, said rock arm having first and second-"portions spaced radially different distanceslfrom itsp'ivot to p rbvide respectively along lever "armf'and-a' relatively shorter leyer "arinfre'arwardly extending control link me'ans piv otally connected atits forward-end toj-oneof-the' levee arms and'pivotallyconnected at its rear end to e base on an exaspacea from andpara'llel to the pivot*'of bo'orn' to" the base; releasableover-center linkage eoii= nect'ed at one end to thescoop and at its otherend to'the othef'leyer arm of the rock arm, said linkage being rel as: able to c'hange its length" and to' 'ac't'ron thescoop andreact. on the rockarm to' 'tilt' the scoop to dumping and "means connected to and for actuating the over linkage; a ,l 1

5 In a load-handling machine of the type including a fore-and-aft extending bas e' tewhich 'the r'ear ends are pairfof forwardly extending, laterally "spaced apart lift' booms 'are'pivoted orte transverse hor izcintal axis for vertieal swinging and a sc'oop p oted be e'en the forward ends tof-the member's en'a transverse axis or tiltiiig from a carryin g po's'ition to 1:1 dump posit are ment comprising: a transverse rockshaft carried between the booms behind the scoop; a first, relatively long arm and a second relatively shorter arm fixed to and spaced apart axially of the rockshaft and extending upwardly therefrom and parallel to each other; control link means connected between the upper end of the longer arm and a pivot on the base spaced from and parallel to the pivot of the boom to the base for stabilizing the rockshaft about its axis as the booms swing vertically; a pivot member cross-connecting the arms above and parallel to the rockshaft at the level of the upper end of the shorter arm; a sleeve journaled on the pivot member between the arms; a pair of parallel levers spaced apart and fixed to the sleeve and normally projecting rearwardly of the sleeve; a pair of links connected respectively between the levers and portions of the scoop above the pivot axis of the scoop, said links and levers providing releasable over-center means normally locked with the levers in their rearward positions to stabilize the scoop about its pivot axis via the control link means and rockshaft as the booms swing vertically; and means for rocking the sleeve on the pivot member to cause the levers to move upwardly and act forwardly through the pair of links to effect tilting of the scoop to its dumping position.

6. In a load-handling machine of the type including a fore-and-aft extending base to which the rear ends of a pair of forwardly extending, laterally spaced apart lift booms are pivoted on a transverse horizontal axis for vertical swinging and a scoop pivoted between the forward ends of the members on a transverse axis for tilting from a carrying position to a dumping position, the improvement comprising: a transverse rockshaft carried between the booms behind the scoop, a pair of parallel arms spaced apart transversely and fixed to the rockshaft and extending upwardly therefrom, one of said arms being relatively long and the other relatively short; control link means connected between the upper end of the long arm and a pivot on the base spaced from and parallel to the pivot of the booms to the base for stabilizing the rockshaft about its axis as the booms swing vertically; a pivot member cross-connecting the arms above and parallel to the rockshaft at the level of the upper end of the short arm; a lever journaled on the pivot member and normally proiecting rearwardly; a link connected between the lever and a portion of the scoop above the pivot axis of the scoop, said link and lever providing releasable over-center means normally locked with the lever in its rearward position to stabilize the scoop about its pivot axis via the control link means and rockshaft as the booms swing vertically; and means for rocking the lever on the pivot member to cause the lever to move upwardly and act forwardly through the link to efiect tilting of the scoop to its dumping position.

7. In a load-handling machine of the type including a fore-and-aft extending base to which the rear ends of a pair of forwardly extending, laterally spaced apart lift booms are pivoted on a transverse horizontal axis for vertical swinging and a scoop pivoted between the forward ends of the members on a transverse axis for tilting from a carrying position to a dumping position, the improvement comprising: a transverse rockshaft carried between the booms behind the scoop; a pair of parallel arms spaced apart transversely of and fixed to the rockshaft and extending upwardly therefrom, one of said arms being relatively long and the other relatively short; means connected between the upper end of the long arm and the base for stabilizing the rockshaft about its axis as the booms swing vertically; a pivot member cross-connecting the arms above and parallel to the rockshaft at the level of the upper end of the short arm; a sleeve journaled on the pivot member; a pair of parallel levers spaced apart and fixed to the sleeve; a pair of links connected respectively between the levers and portions of the scoop above the pivot axis of the scoop,

said links and levers providing releasable over-center means normally locked with the levers in their rearward positions to stabilize the scoop about its pivot axis via; the control link means and rockshaft as the booms swing:

vertically; and means for rocking the sleeve on the pivot member to cause the levers to move upwardly and act forwardly through the pair of links to effect tilting of the scoop to its dumping position.

8. In a loader of the class described having a loadbearing member and a loader scoop pivoted thereto for tilting between a carrying position and a dumping position, the improvement comprising; a rockable arm carried by the load-bearing member and including a short lever part and a relatively longer lever part; means connected to the longer lever part for rocking the arm; means interconnecting the shorter lever part and the scoop for transmitting rocking of the arm to the scoop to cause tilting of the scoop relative to the arm in a limited range short of dumping the scoop, said means comprising a pair of pivotally interconnected links selectively relatively movable to vary the total length thereof, and a releasable;

over-center device normally locked with the links.im-

mobilized to serve as a force-transmitting element of fixed length between the arm and scoop; and means for releasing the over-center device to provide for relative- 2,357,954 Iohnson Sept. 12, 1944' 2,443,884 Arps June 22, 1948 2,597,692 Wills et al. May 20, 1952 2,598,944 Stueland June 3, 1952 2.603.374 McNamara. Ir. July 15, 1952 

